Mark Baker

Biography

 Professor Baker obtained a BSc(Hons) (1981) and PhD (1985) in biochemistry from Macquarie University investigating oxidation of proteins in vitro and extending this to in vivo human disease situations. He has been CEO and Director of APAF, building it into a competitive well-funded national NCRIS infrastructure facility and Director of the Biomolecular Frontiers Research Centre at Macquarie University. He has primarily been responsible for making Macquarie a centre of proteomics excellence for more than a decade. He is now a major driver scientifically and managerially of the global Human Protein Project (HPP). He convened HUPO2010 at which the HPP was launched. He is managing the Chr7 HPP and Human Plasma HPP projects and is on the HUPO and HPP Executive Committee. Prof Baker has established an international reputation in fields related to proteomics, protein structure and function oxidation of proteins, serine proteases/receptors/inhibitors and membrane proteomics). This is evidenced by a 2012 HUPO Distinguished Service Award and three  patents, 120 peer reviewed publications and a h index=30, positions on editorial boards, international Congress plenary invitations, HUPO Board and recently Executive Committee election and successful supervision of  40 postgraduates.

Research Interest

 Prof Bakers current research interests cover cancer proteomics, biomarkers and molecular cell biology, including; advanced proteomic technologies, cancer metastasis and how portease receptors, growth factor receptors and integrins membrane protein networks regulate the pathobiology of cancer.  These include the development of novel platforms to determine what and how proteins interact to regulate metastasis and early cancer blood protein biomarker discovery.  He is the current chair of the HUPO Plasma Proteome Project and is coordinator of a number of Australian/NZ efforts in the chromosomal and biology/disease 'pillars' of the global Human Proteome Project (HPP).  Prof Baker also has active collaborations with scientists in Australia, NZ, USA, Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, China, Germany and Japan.